The G87 BMW M2 Allegedly Has One Final Ace To Play

Munich isn't ready to let the G87 party end just yet, wanting one last dance before this generation of the M2 Coupe takes its leave. Fresh intelligence sourced from a BMW insider suggests that one remaining version is scheduled to join the lineup before the assembly line in San Luis Potosi grinds to a halt in July 2029.

The nature of this information has ignited fierce debate across enthusiast message boards, including Bimmerpost. Many enthusiasts framed the community's exact conundrum, asking whether BMW is prepping an M3 CS Handschalter-inspired manual version of the M2 CS or something with an eight-speed auto.

All things considered, that something could be either a CS with all-wheel drive or a stripped-out M2 bearing the CSL suffix. Candidate one rests entirely on driver engagement. When the German company launched the auto-only M2 CS, three-pedal loyalists immediately lamented the absence of a clutch pedal. On the other hand, BMW and the M division made a case for a manual by launching the M3 CS Handschalter for North America exclusively.

Applying that philosophy to the G87 would create an instant collector's item. The CS Handschalter would serve as a fitting tribute to analog performance, especially when you remember that M plans to discontinue manual high-performance vehicles altogether by the end of the decade. If the Bavarian manufacturer prioritizes outright lap times and traction, xDrive in combination with the CS school of thought is the logical evolutionary step.

BMW has already established a clear playbook with the M3 CS and M4 CS. Both pair elevated S58 outputs with rear-biased M xDrive and the M Steptronic torque-converter automatic. With the introduction of the M2 xDrive back in June 2026, the fully variable all-wheel-drive hardware is already integrated into the G87 and available for San Luis Potosi assembly line workers.

Its relentless point-and-shoot capability would make the CS xDrive the fastest M2 Coupe to date. As for candidate three, who could say no to a lightweight sports car that makes the most out of the G87's architecture? A true Competition Sport Lightweight would subject the compact model to a thoroughly aggressive weight-loss program, shedding more weight than BMW did with the Competition Sport.

BMW officially claims 30 kilograms (66 pounds) less than the M2 with the 8HP tranny. Forged alloy wheels reduce unsprung and rotating mass, while the standard M Carbon bucket seats are accompanied by a simplified carbon-fiber center console. Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic is also used for the roof panel, front splitter, aerodynamic diffuser, and ducktail-style trunk lid of the M2 CS.

The jump from CS to CSL would require more weight savings, and engineers could achieve this rather easily, beginning with a rear-seat delete. Shedding a few kilos here and there while improving chassis and suspension bits would result in an uncompromising (and properly expensive) compact-sized bruiser.

Whichever direction the M division chooses with the blessing of the suits at BMW, customers should prepare their checkbooks. The M2 CS is nearly $100,000 before options, meaning an exclusive final edition will push the smallest M high-performance vehicle of the lot well into six-figure territory.

With production scheduled through July 2029, the company has time to calibrate its final move. Whether we'll be presented with stick-shift purity, all-wheel-drive madness, or extreme track-focused weight reduction, the answer to this three-way question will define the legacy of the G87.